SUMMER 2023┃65 Fifty-five percent of highway contractors report that motor vehicles had crashed into their construction work zones during the past year, putting motorists and workers at risk, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America and HCSS. Association officials called on state and local leaders to enact new enforcement and education measures to improve work zone safety. According to the survey results, motorists are in even greater danger from highway work zone crashes than construction workers. Twenty-eight percent of contractors participating in the survey experienced crashes that resulted in injury to construction workers. But more than twice as many firms—59 percent— reported experiencing a crash in which drivers or passengers were injured. Work zone crashes also are twice as likely to result in fatalities to drivers or passengers as construction workers. Eight percent of contractors in the survey report that construction workers were killed in work zone crashes, while 16 percent of survey respondents report drivers or passengers were killed in those crashes. In the survey, 97 percent of contractors report that highway work zones are either as dangerous, or more dangerous, than they were a year ago. More than half of contractors want automatic ticketing for speeding in work zones. Seventy-nine percent want a greater police presence and 65 percent want stricter enforcement. AGC of America is calling on every state to prioritize education and enforcement to make work zones safer. The association wants every state to require new drivers to complete a work zone safety course, deploy more police to work zones, authorize speed cameras in those zones and set tougher penalties, like fines and points, for unsafe work zone driving. The work zone safety study was based on a nationwide survey of highway construction firms the association conducted this April and May. Over 900 contractors completed the survey. Here in Colorado, CCA works closely with owner agencies, law enforcement and contractors to improve work zone safety across the state. CCA, along with its partner associations sponsor an annual “Go Orange Day” each spring to highlight worker safety. The CCA Associate Council maintains a Worker Safety Fund that assists workers and their families when tragedy strikes. This year we are partnering with other like-minded groups to form a coalition looking at potential changes to Colorado state law to improve cone-zone safety. Stay tuned for more as we get closer to the 2024 Legislative session. Safety is all our jobs – and nothing is more important. Fifty-five Percent Of Firms Working On Highway Upgrades Experienced Cars Crashing Into Their Work Zone During The Past Year, New Data Finds Tony Milo is President of the Colorado Contractors Association and can be reached at tmilo@ccaifo.org INSIDE CCA Tony Milo SPRING-SUMMER 2023┃51 CCA Hosts Inaugural Infrastructure Construction Excellence (ICE) Awards The author Randy Drennen is Vice President of the Colorado Contractors Association and can be contacted at rdrennen@ccainfo.org On April 14th, 2023 more than 340 members of the infrastructure industry gathered at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center to celebrate outstanding projects across Colorado completed or substantially completed in 2022 at the inaugural ICE Awards Gala. The Colorado Contractors Association (CCA) created the ICE Award program to merge the previous CDOT project management awards with the CCA H2O Awards. Creating a single event to recognize outstanding achievement across the entire infrastructure industry has been a goal for CCA for several years. “We strongly believe it is important to recognize the folks doing this work across the state and celebrate the successes in every corner of the industry. With the creation of the ICE Award program, we were able to create categories for virtually every type of work performed by our members and the infrastructure community – not just CDOT and H2O related projects”, said Tony Milo, President, CCA. Categories were separated by type of work and project value including Airport, Transportation and Highway, Water, Utility and Infrastructure, Private Owner, and Environmental Sustainability among others. Additionally, CCA appreciates the importance of recognizing excellence among the subcontractor and DBE contracting communities as well and had several winners in those categories. The event was emceed by television personality and Colorado’s own Kayleen McCabe. Guests spent time networking and enjoying each others company prior to the dinner and award presentations. Following the awards, attendees celebrated into the night with casino tables and music. The application process and submissions for the 2023 ICE Awards will open in November or December and CCA will likely host the gala again in April of 2024. INSIDE CCA Randy Drennen Flatiron Constructors, Inc. Airport Infrastructure Project DEN Runway 16R-34L Pavement and Lighting Rehabilitation Brannan Sand & Gravel Co. Private Owner Project Under $6M Costco Wholesale Distribution Center – Aurora, CO Zak Dirt, Inc. Federal and Heavy Civil Water Project Under $10M Lower Beaver Brook Dam CEI Constructors Highway/Transportation Local Agency Project Under $10M Nature Play Park – RTD Westminster Station Ames Construction, Inc. Highway/Transportation Local Agency Project Over $10M Lemay Ave. Realignment over Vine Dr. and BNSF Railroad CM/GC American West Construction, LLC Utility Infrastructure Project Under $10M Brighton North Outfall – Phase #3 T. Lowell Construction, Inc. Utility Infrastructure Project Over $10M Big Dry Creek Interceptor Sewer Improvements – Project Areas 1 & 9 Kiewit Infrastructure Co. Highway/Transportation CDOT Project Under $10M I-25 and 58th Avenue Barrier Work Lawrence Construction Co. Highway/Transportation CDOT Project $10M-$20M I-70 Glenwood Canyon Emergency Repairs Kraemer North America, LLC 1st Place Highway/Transportation CDOT Project over $20M I-25 South Gap Lighthouse Transportation Group DBE Contractor Excellence Broadway and Plaza Lobato Construction, LLC Subcontractor Excellence Award West 8th Avenue Bridge Reconstruction Flatiron Constructors, Inc. Environmental Preservation and Sustainability Excellence East Troublesome Fire Emergency Watershed Program CM/GC Kraemer North America, LLC AGC - Build America Nominee I-25 South Gap 1st Place awards Winners
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